Boot for universal joints



Oct. 25, 1938.

S. CROSSLAND BOOT FOR UNIVERSAL JOINTS Original Filed Dec. 20, 1934 2 F 5 i 5 i i i V 1 i s F 1, F g

INVENTOR. 5 Kazan 6")"066/4274? ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 25, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE Universal Products Company, Inc.,' 0..

tion of Delaware corpora- Application December 20, 1934, sci-a1 No. 758,404 Renewed August 22, 1938- 4 Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in boots used in motor vehicles to cover and enclose the space between the propeller shaft housing and the universal joint housing. The boot is employed to 5 prevent the loss of lubricant packed around the moving parts in the universal joint housing, and to exclude therefrom dirt and other foreign matter. In order to perform its function most satisfactorily the boot must be made of a flexible material whichdoes not tear easily and resists wear, preferably a leather, such as elk skin, though fabric or other'suitable material may be used, and the edges of the boot must be securely fastened to the respective housings, generally upon flanges integral therewith and provided for such purpose. The fastening of the boot edges to the flanges generally is done by wrapping the edges of the boot circumferentially around the flangesand securing the edges relative thereto by tightly drawn annular bands or by spring means. Due, however, to jarring, twisting, shrinkage of the leather, and other kindred causes the edges of the boot occasionally work loose and slip from between the securing means and the flanges leaving openings between the boot ..edges and the flanges through which lubricant may escape and fo lgn matter enter.

e principal object of my invention is to provide a boot which will not work loose or.

slip off of the housing structure to which it is secured, yet is easily installed-economical and inexpensive to manufactureand efllcientin its use. 1

with this and other objects in view, the invention consists in the combination, arrangement .andconstruction of the various parts .of the mproved 'device described and claimed inthe accompanying specification, and shown in the drawing, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the propeller shaft and universal joint housing with the boot installed, and a section of the whole thereof cut away to show essentiaifeatures of the invention, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the inner side of the improved boot of the invention.

Rig. *3 is a perspective view of the improved boot partially assembled, free from the housings, and r Fig. fisan enlarged transverse sectional view of the boot taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2. A

Referring now to the drawing in detail, in which like numbers designate like parts, and more particularly to Fig. 1 thereof a hollow' truncated cone-shaped boot I is shown horizontally dispo'sed as regards its axis, between a universal joint housing 2 and a propeller shaft housing 3, likewise disposed, both of which have boot supporting circular flanges 4 and 5 directed towards each other and integral the'adJacentex- 5 tremities of said housings, respectively. Said flanges are annularly channeled on their outer faces as indicated by 6 and 1, respectively. Upon these flanges rest the edges 8 and 9 of the boot, the edge 8, the larger end of the boot I, resting 10 upon the universal joint housing flange 4 and the edge 9, the smaller. endupon the prbpeller shaft housing flange I.

For the purpose of securing the edges of the It and II of the boot are folded inwardly back upon the main portion of-the boot as indicated in Fig. 2 and stitched at II a spaced-distance from each side edge I and Q, thereby providing between the stitching l2 and the folds;,at edges 8' and Stunnels l3 and I4 through which wires II and It extend substantiallythe full lengths thereof, emerging outwardly through perfora-' tions .24 in the outer walls of the tunnels near the extremities thereof. When the edges of the boot -25 indicated by l'l, Fig. 1, thus drawing and hold- 80.

ing the edges of the boot down and in the channels in the respective flan thereby determining the inner circumfere ces of the boot at.

the tunnels and minimizing the opportunity for the edges to give, work loose 'or slip off the flanges. 85'

The form of boot shown in the accompanying drawing being a split type boot, the ends it and I I9 may be attached in any suitable manner, as

by lacing, stitching,.riveting, or as shown by Fig.

3. wherein the endsof the boot are attached in 40 an overlapping relation relative to each other, in that across piece 20 bearing outwardly. extending prongs II is attached by stitches 22 on the inner side and across one end I! of the boot, and the other end ll of the bootls received between the cross piece 20 and the end it of the boot to which the cross piece is fixed; The two ends of the boot are adapted byslits or perforations-23 therein to receive said prongs therethrough and be thereby secured in an overlapped relation, as shown in Fig. 3,'-the outer extremities of the pr ongs 2|, extending beyond the face of the boot and bent towards the edgeof the end It or the boot outerlapping the other, as'shbwn in Fig. 1.

. It is evident that although wire is shown in the 5!? boot relative to the housing flanges. the sides 15 drawing as a preferable fastening means, a metal,

band, cord, thread-like material or any other suitable material of a substantially inelastic character may be used.

It is also obvious that the specific construction is capable of various modifications and changes,

' and accordingly, formal changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention shown without departing from the substance or spirit of the broad invention, the scope of which. is commensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A split boot for" a universal joint housing, said boot having a flexible body portion, means for connecting the ends of the boots relative to each other, a marginal edge thereof folded back upon the body portion thereof and secured relative thereto to form a tunnel, said tunnel having perforations through the outer wall thereof, and

the outer wall thereof and a wire extending through said tunnel and said perforations and over said overlapped boot ends and having its ends twisted together in a manner so as to determine the inner circumference of the boot at the tunnel. r 3. A split boot for a universal joint housing, said boot having a flexible body portion, means for connecting the ends of the boot relative to each other in overlapping relation, each marginal edge thereof folded back upon the body portion thereof and secured relative thereto to form a tunnel at each end of the boot, said tunnels having perforations through the outer walls thereof and-wires extending through said tunnels and said perforations and over said overlapped boot ends respectively and having their ends twisted together in a manner so as to determine the inner circumference of the boot at the tunnels. 4. A split boot for a universal joint housing, said boot having a flexible body portion, means for connecting the ends of the boot relative to each other in overlapping relation, each marginal edge thereof folded back upon the body portion thereof and secured relative thereto to form" a tunnel, and a wireextending through said tunnel andover said overlapped boot ends and having its ends twisted together so as to determine the inner circumference of the boot at the tunnel. STUART CROSSLAND. 

